Plastic container made from a fusion blend of post consumer plastic and ethylene polymers

ABSTRACT

A plastic container made from a fusion blend of a post consumer plastic and ethylene polymers and comprising post consumer resin of homopolymer high density polyethylene resin and a small amount of linear low density polyethylene resin. In another form, the container is made from a blend of post consumer homopolymer high density polyethylene resin, virgin high density polyethylene resin with a small amount of linear low density polyethylene resin. The physical properties of the container including stress crack resistance are maintained as contrasted to the loss of such physical properties that have been heretofore resulted from the use of post consumer resins.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/842,838 filed on Feb. 27, 1992 now abandoned.

This invention relates to plastic containers and particularly to plastic containers made of post consumer resin.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the use of plastic materials for containers such as bottles, it has been found desirable to attempt to recycle and reuse the plastic which is commonly known as post consumer plastic (PCP) or post consumer resin (PCR). In attempts to make containers from such materials, it has been found that the properties have been adversely affected.

Specifically when containers are made from post consumer high density polyethylene (HDPE) container scrap, it has been found that the containers have diminished physical properties and particularly diminished distance to stress cracking. Such containers also have been used for packaging of certain types of liquid detergent products. The use of such containers to package liquid detergent products has been somewhat restricted, however, by reason of the fact that many types of liquid detergent products accelerate the tendency of the container to exhibit stress cracking. Stress cracking is evidenced by the appearance of hazy cracks in the container which are aesthetically unpleasing to the ultimate consumer. In extreme cases, stress cracking can lead to leakage of the contents from the container. Stress cracking can occur when the containers are for liquid products including liquid detergents and liquid hypochlorite bleaches.

It has been suggested that such post consumer resin be utilized because large quantities of high density polyethylene post consumer resin are available due to the extensive use of high density polyethylene in large containers for milk and water. Post consumer resin from such containers contain contaminants of paper and other plastic resins, for example, from closures such that it has been generally thought that it can not be used to make satisfactory plastic containers.

Accordingly among objectives of the present invention are to provide a blend of post consumer resin from high density polyethylene containers and the like which will have substantially resistance to stress cracking and which will have minimal diminution in other physical properties permitting its use for various kinds of containers, that are used for containing various products.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the invention, plastic containers are made from a fusion blend of a post consumer resin and a small amount of linear low density polyethylene resin. In another form, containers are made from a blend of post consumer homopolymer high density polyethylene resin, virgin high density polyethylene copolymer resin with a small amount of linear low density polyethylene resin. The physical properties of the container including stress crack resistance are maintained as contrasted to the loss of such physical properties that have been heretofore resulted from the use of post consumer resins.

In accordance with the invention, pellets or flakes of a homopolymer high density polyethylene resin from post consumer resin (PCR) and pellets of linear low density polyethylene were mixed and fusion blended. The containers were blow molded and subjected to testing for stress cracking, top load and drop impact.

In another form the blend included virgin high density copolymer resin.

The blends contain about 10-95% by weight of post consumer resin, 0-75% by weight of virgin high density polyethylene copolymer and 2.5-25% by weight of linear low density polyethylene resin.

Post consumer resin as used herein contains primarily the plastic from high density polyethylene homopolymer containers used for packaging milk, small amounts of colored plastic containers and possible polypropylene resin from syrup bottles, multi-layer ketchup bottles and caps. Such post consumer resin has the properties set forth in the following Table I.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         PROPERTY            SPECIFIED VALUE                                            ______________________________________                                         Material Density    .961 ± .002 natural                                     Melt Flow - Melt Index                                                                             0.75 ± 0.2 dgm                                          Polypropylene                                                                  (Includes Multi-layer Bottles)                                                                     Not to exceed 3%                                           Fines               <0.01%                                                     Moisture            <0.01%                                                     Contamination                                                                  Paper               <0.01%                                                     Plastic-Dens. > 1.0 gm/cc                                                                          <0.1%                                                      Metal fragments     None                                                       Other (glass, stone)                                                                               None                                                       ______________________________________                                    

The virgin high density homopolymer resin contains linear high-density ethylene polymer. Each of the linear high-density ethylene copolymer included in the blends will have a density of at least about 0.94 gm/ml, a melt index of less than about 0.5 gm/10 min. and will have polymerized therein at least about 98 mol % ethylene with any comonomer polymerized therein being an alpha-monoolefin containing about 3 to 12 carbon atoms. Such linear high-density ethylene polymers are known and reported in the art and are commercially available from numerous commercial producers. Such linear high-density ethylene polymers are prepared by polymerizing ethylene, optionally in the presence of an alpha-monoolefin comonomer containing 4 to 12 carbon atoms in the presence of certain metallic catalysts such as chromium catalysts, e.g. CrO₃ supported on silica-alumina supports, and the Ziegler-Natta catalysts, e.g. TiCl₃ employed in conjunction with certain aluminum alkyl cocatalysts. The requisite density and melt index desired in the polymer are obtained by proper control of polymerization conditions including temperature, pressure, comonomer concentration, and the concentration of terminating agents such as hydrogen. The preferred linear high-density ethylene polymers will have a density of at least about 0.94 gm/ml. The especially preferred polymers will have a density of at least about 0.95 gm/ml.

Stress crack resistance is conventionally conducted with test methods as established by Technical Bulletin PBI 11-1978 of the Plastic Bottle Institute, Rev.1-1991 or ASTM D2561-70 (Reapproved 1989).

The linear low-density ethylene polymer(s) included in the blends of the invention have a density in a range of about 0.91 to about 0.93 gm/ml, preferably in a range of about 0.92 to about 0.93 gm/ml, and especially about 0.925 gm/ml. The linear, low-density ethylene polymers will have a melt index of less than about 2.0 and preferably less than about 1.0 gm/10 min. It is desirable for the melt index to be close to the melt index of the linear high-density ethylene polymer included in the blend. These polymers are ethylene copolymers having polymerized about 2-6 and preferably about 4-6 mol % of an alpha-monoolefin containing 3 to 12 carbon atoms with the balance of the monomer polymerized therein being ethylene. The linear low-density ethylene polymers employed in the present invention have long linear chains with controlled numbers of relatively short chain branches attached to the linear chain along its entire length. These sides chains or "branches" are short and will contain from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms depending upon the particular alpha-monoolefin employed in the preparation of the polymer. The linear low-density ethylene polymers differ structurally from low-density ethylene polymers made by high-pressure free radical initiated polymerizations in having few, if any, long chain branches.

The linear low-density ethylene polymers are commercially available from multiple commercial sources. Such polymers are prepared by copolymerizing ethylene with an alpha-monoolefin containing about 3 to 12 carbon atoms in the presence of certain metallic catalysts of the same general type employed to prepare the linear high-density ethylene polymers discussed supra. The polymerization conditions employed in their preparation differ somewhat, and somewhat modified catalysts will be employed. One of the techniques to prepare such polymers involves copolymerizing ethylene and butene 1 in the vapor phase in a fluidized bed process. By reason of the constraints imposed by carrying out the polymerization in the vapor phase, the ethylene polymers prepared by this process are limited to copolymers of ethylene and butene 1. By operating in solvent systems, copolymers can be prepared from alpha-monoolefin comonomers containing up to 12 carbon atoms. The preferred linear low-density ethylene polymers for inclusion in the blends of the invention will be ethylene copolymers having polymerized therein at least one alpha-monoolefin comonomer containing 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and which optionally also will have copolymerized therein butene 1.

    __________________________________________________________________________     The following Table II summarizes one set of tests that have been              conducted.                                                                     32 OZ. PINCH WAIST OVAL                                                        Run #     1   2   3    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13                  __________________________________________________________________________     % PCR     25  25  25   25  50  50  50  75  75  75  90  95  90                  % Virgin COP.                                                                            72.5                                                                               70  65   50  47.5                                                                               45  40  22.5                                                                               20  15                              % LLDPE   2.5 5   10   25  2.5 5   10  2.5 5   10  10  5                       Gram Weights                                                                   (20 Bottles)                                                                   Mean      46.37                                                                              46.51                                                                              46.77                                                                               46.91                                                                              46.63                                                                              46.86                                                                              46.94                                                                              46.46                                                                              46.64                                                                              46.34                                                                              47.78                                                                              46.77                                                                              46.53               STD. Dev. .387                                                                               .350                                                                               .435 .251                                                                               .211                                                                               .181                                                                               .229                                                                               .177                                                                               .246                                                                               .252                                                                               .207                                                                               .194                                                                               .228                Top Load  36.1#                                                                              35.0#                                                                              38.5#                                                                               39.6#                                                                              42.1#                                                                              39.6#                                                                              43.4#                                                                              45.5#                                                                              42.8#                                                                              44.1#                                                                              42.0#                                                                              44.9#                                                                              45.8#               (10 Bottles)                                                                   Pounds                                                                         Drop Test                                                                      (25 Bottles)                                                                   Bruceton                                                                       EMFH      6.9'                                                                               6.75'                                                                              9.5'+                                                                               9.25'                                                                              8.75'                                                                              8.3'                                                                               9.15'                                                                              9.5'+                                                                              9.25'                                                                              9.25'                                                                              9.25'                                                                              7.58'                                                                              8.13'               ESCR                                                                           140 Degrees                                                                    (10 Bottles)                                                                   Days to 1st Fail                                                                         25  6   30   35  6   2   5   2   2   3   3   2   1                   Days to 50% Fail                                                                         33      37       10  7   15  2   3   7   4   3   3                   ESCR                                                                           120 Degrees                                                                    (10 Bottles)                                                                   Days to 1st Fail                                                                         2   4   3    6   3   3   4   2   2   3   2   2   1                   Days to 50% Fail                                                                         5   11  9    7   4   4   6   2   2   4   3   2   1                   __________________________________________________________________________      **Variable #4 and #6 bottles have been in 140 degree stress crack test fo      51 days as of 2/7/92.                                                          50% failure has yet to occur.                                            

In another series of test blends of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) combined with post consumer high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle scrap (PCR) and virgin HDPE polymer. The linear low density polymer was in a fusion blend with a pigment as a carrier of 50% linear low density polymer and 50% pigment. Bottles were subsequently tested along with control bottles made without incorporating LLDPE resin as shown in the following Table III:

                                      TABLE III                                    __________________________________________________________________________                       ESCR, F50, Days                                                                120 Deg. 140 Deg.                                                                         Top Load                                                                             Drop Impact                                 Composition       W/TP LD.   LBS.  EMFH                                        __________________________________________________________________________     1st Bottle Design - 32 Ounce Detergent                                         Control, 100% HDPE Copolymer                                                                     26   63    42.5 LBS.                                                                            8' 11"                                      25% PCR, 75% HDPE Copolymer                                                                      18   56    36.6 LBS.                                                                            9' 2"                                       25% PCR, 72.5% HDPE Copolymer                                                                    16   82    41.7 LBS.                                                                            6' 3"                                       Plus 2.5% LLDPE                                                                50% PCR, 50% HDPE Copolymer                                                                       8*  51    40.2 LBS.                                                                            7' 0"                                       50% PCR, 45% HDPE Copolymer                                                                      16   50    42.6 LBS.                                                                            6' 7"                                       Plus 5% LLDPE                                                                  2nd Bottle Design - 64 Ounce Detergent, with Handle                            Control, 96% HDPE Copolymer,                                                                     41 Days, PROD. "A"                                           4% Colorant                                                                    50% PCR, 41% HDPE Copolymer,                                                                     27 Days, PROD. "A"                                           4% Colorant Plus 5% LLDPE                                                                        140 Deg. PROD. "B"                                                             >7 Days.                                                     3rd Bottle Design - 128 Ounce, With Handle                                     Control, 96% HDPE Copolymer,                                                                     140 Deg, > 19 Days                                                                        87.9 LBS.                                                                            4' 5"                                       4% Colorant                                                                    50% PCR, 41% HDPE Copolymer,                                                                     140 Deg, > 19 Days                                                                        89.4 LBS.                                                                            3' 10"                                      4% Colorant Plus 5% LLDPE                                                      (50% PCR, 46$ HDPE Copolymer                                                                     140 Deg, > 19 Days                                                                        80.3 LBS.                                                                            3' 9"                                       4% Colorant)                                                                   __________________________________________________________________________      *Did Not Meet Specifications                                             

It can be seen that improved results were obtained when the linear low density polyethylene was preblended with pigment. 

We claim:
 1. A plastic container made from a fusion blend of a post consumer resin and ethylene polymers consisting essentially of a fusion blend ofpost consumer plastic resin of homopolymer high density polyethylene plastic, a small amount of linear low density polyethylene resin, virgin high density polyethylene copolymer resin in said fusion blend, said virgin high density polyethylene copolymer resin having a density of at least about 0.94 gm/ml, a melt index of less than about 0.5 gm/10 min. and will have polymerized therein at least about 98 mole % ethylene with any comonomer polymerized therein being an alpha-monoolefin containing about 3-12 carbon atoms, said post consumer resin having a density of about 0.961 and a melt index of about 0.75, said linear low density polyethylene having a density in the range of about 0.91 to about 0.93 gm/ml, and a melt index of less than about 2.0 and having polymerized about 2-6 mole % of an alpha-monoolefin containing 3-12 carbon atoms with the balance of the monoolefin polymerized therein being ethylene, said post consumer resin ranging between about 25-95% by weight, said linear low density polyethylene resin ranging between about 2.5 to 25% by weight, said virgin high density polyethylene copolymer resin ranges between about 2.5-72.5% by weight, said container having environmental stress crack resistance which is maintained as contrasted to the loss of such environmental stress resistance that has heretofore resulted from the use of post consumer resins.
 2. The plastic container set forth in claim 1 wherein said post consumer resin and linear low density polyethylene resin are fusion blended before being mixed with the virgin high density polyethylene copolymer resin.
 3. The plastic container set forth in any one of claims 1 and 2 including a color concentrate wherein said linear low density polyethylene resin is used as a carrier for said color concentrate in a fusion blend before being blended with said post consumer resin and said virgin high density polyethylene copolymer resin. 